Anniversary Perfection

A few months ago one of our favorite babysitters (and friend) told me that for Christmas she wanted to babysit our kids for two nights so that Tyler and I could get away.  When you don't live near family, that is the BEST Christmas gift anyone could ever give.  We've paid for a babysitter overnight before, but never two nights.  We were super grateful and excited to take her up on it!

7 1/2 years ago I thought that people who got married on a weekday were not very thoughtful to the friends and family who would want to be there for the big day.  7 years ago I married Tyler for Time and All Eternity in the Las Vegas LDS Temple...3 days after Christmas...on a Tuesday. :)  So this gift was perfect timing for an anniversary getaway.  PLUS Tyler is off of work the week between Christmas and New Years.  The stars were aligned.

We got a great deal on a nice bed and breakfast called the Camano Island Inn, a couple of hours away.  So on Tuesday we went to the Seattle Temple for a session and then drove to Camano Island.  It was THE PERFECT anniversary trip.  No agenda, spotty internet, jacuzzi in the room, right on the water, just me and my man with not a lot to do...it was heaven.

We had a delicious breakfast, exchanged gifts, took our time getting ready, walked on the beach, drove around the island, had lunch in a nearby town, stopped at a cute antique shop, read all of the e-mails we sent to each other during our courtship, looked at wedding pictures, Ty did a reflexology session (the deal came with a spa credit and most of what they offered wasn't great for a pregnant lady, so I made Ty go instead...it was his first time doing anything like that and I giggled a lot while he was gone because of how uncomfortable he was about the whole thing, but he ended up enjoying it :) ).  Then we got all dressed up to walk 50 feet to have dinner.  Oh, did we ever have dinner.  It took us two hours to eat the 7-course gourmet goodness that just kept coming.  It was incredible.  I wanted Chef Nick to come home with us, but Tyler and I both agreed that Mr. Gourmet might not be appreciated by our three little ones and he probably wouldn't like what we could pay him ($0).  It was a good thing we only had to walk 50 feet back to our room after that dinner because I couldn't have walked more than that.  I was s-t-u-f-f-e-d...in the best possible way.  We watched a movie and got to sleep in the heavenly bed once again before heading home to our kids this morning.  Jessica had everything so clean and the kids were happy while we were gone, but super happy to have us walk in the door again.  We are ever so grateful!

 

 We actually had time to take naps!  Oh man, I love him...

View from our room

A little post-fancy-pants-dinner-self-photo-shoot in the room?  Don't mind if we do.  Who else is going to take our anniversary getaway pictures?  Our budget for a personal photographer is the same as our budget for a personal chef.

 On the ferry, heading back to reality

I love my husband.  Like, really, really, really love him.  I am as excited to be married to him today as I was 7 years ago...actually, even more now.  But the excitement and happiness and love run so much deeper 7 years in.  I am a lucky lady and I absolutely know it.  This little getaway was, in a word, perfection.

Christmas is rad

I LoVe this holiday.  Caroling with the Morgensens, Christmas Eve Dinner with the Lintons, treats to and from neighbors (which means something sweet for this pregnant lady to eat EVERY DAY), Daddy sent my favorite fudge (WITHOUT walnuts, just the way I like it) all the way from Vegas, gifts to and from family and friends, pure excitement from purely delightful little people...what's not to love?!

 The writing on the fudge from my dad says: 

"Why would you want fudge with no walnuts?  Enjoy.  I guess.  Love, yer Daddy (me too)" :)

 Mary and Joseph   *sigh*   I love these two.

 My son never poses normal...I dig it

 Camila Linton...6 days younger than Everett and absolutely adorable.  She and Ev were shepherds.

 Our dear friends, the Kents, came a-caroling

This is Karli.  She was in Young Womens when I was a leader.  Now she's married and expecting a babe just 10 days after me.  Notice a discrepancy in belly size?  I sure do!  Oh well.  She's beautiful and I am so excited for her!

 Presenting Santa's treats in their Christmas jammies from Mrs. Clause and her elves (well, the main attraction in this picture is the carrots for the reindeer)

Writing letters to Mr. Clause

I recorded this (below) on Facebook about Max's Christmas letter:


I loved Max's note to Santa that he left with the milk and cookies. I was the scribe and he wanted me to write, "I love you, Santa, SO much." But then he said that he wanted to say something else but didn't want to make Santa feel bad. I asked him what it was and he leaned over with his hand cupped around his mouth to whisper in my ear, "But I love my Mom and Dad more." I told him that would probably make Santa happy to hear that he loves his mom and dad, so we put it in the letter followed by (I hope that doesn't make you feel bad)

Then he said, "Santa, I don't want any presents for Christmas, I just want to learn about Jesus. (pause) Wellll....I do want SOME presents. Thank you for all the things you do." :) 

 Waiting on the stairs to see what Santa brought

One of my favorite family traditions during this beautiful season?  Filling the manger.  At the beginning of December we have a Family Home Evening where we talk about Christmas wish lists and what the kids want from Santa, then we talk about what we are celebrating (Jesus' birth) and we write what we think Jesus would put on His "wish list" for us to do during this season.  As we do those things (often they were secret acts of kindness...I had my bed lumpily made by a certain 3 and 5-year-old several times) then we place a piece of straw in the manger, with the goal of filling the manger so that it is nice and soft with our good deeds for Baby Jesus on His birth day.  And this year Ty made us a pretty awesome manger.  He's handy like that.

It was a very fun Christmas.  I'm already excited for next year!

Random

Everett hung out for a LONG time in this get-up one day

Kelly came downstairs sporting some eyeliner..."I'm just trying to look like YOU, Mom!" :)

This is what Max deemed worthy of photographing one December afternoon

Dentist Appointments...

Ty went to a Tacky Christmas Party for the youth at church...I think he should have won an award.  Nasty outfit and the green lounge pants were the kicker.

 I came in to find Kelly and Ev like this on the couch watching a cartoon one morning

Kindergarten Christmas Concert

Delightful.  I LOVED watching Max at this little concert.  I love how he turned around and watched the girls sing behind him, I love how into the hand actions he got, I love that he kept waving at us, I love that he turned to sing right to us even though it meant he was looking a different direction than the rest of his class, I REALLY love the videos...the pictures are fine, but the videos are so sweet. It was fun to run into Reyes and her family on the way out for a photo op. I can't believe we're halfway through his Kindergarten year!  I love this little fella.

Portable North Pole

If you have small children (or grandchildren) and didn't do the PNP with your kids this year...you really should next year.  It was awesome!  Santa sends a personalized e-mail the child and lets them know if they are on the naughty or nice list.  It is really well done and you can give several details about your child.  My kiddos LOVED it.  Max was especially hilarious to watch.  As the elves were checking the list, Max was peeking through his hands saying, "I can't watch!" He quickly went from excitement to serious fear and started to do a nervous kind of cry.  I really don't know why he was so scared (he's a great kid, just has his moments) but he was crying, walking away from the computer, super anxious.  Suddenly the green light appeared and he let out a big relief laugh/cry mixture and laughed for the next few minutes.  It was a total hoot...and kind of sad. But afterward they wouldn't stop talking about it.  It was awesome.